The National Rugby Championship (NRC) in Australia draws ever nearer to a conclusion this weekend as the semi-finals take place. Nine teams have been whittled down to the final four after an eight match season to find the top domestic side. Ranking below Super Rugby, the NRC is the Australian domestic competition that has this year proven to be a success after several previous attempts failed. It appears this tournament may well have the opportunity to grow and flourish. The strength of this competition can only help to bolster the regions Super Rugby sides as well as the Wallabies.
NRC Semi Finals: Brisbane City Set to Dominate
With sides from around the country there is the prospect for union to develop further although this year it is the major traditional heartlands that have reached the finals. Brisbane City will face up against the Sydney Stars whilst UC Vikings will take on the Melbourne Rising for the chance for a place in the final. At the end of the regular season, it was Brisbane City who had dominated with an impressive showing, winning eight out of eight and achieving the try bonus point on six occasions. Indeed in their previous fixture against the Sydney Stars they ran out 58-0 winners amassing eight tries on top of an impeccable defensive display. Sydney finished fourth and are rewarded with this daunting task after going 4-4 throughout the season they will have to raise their game massively in order to take on the challenge that lays ahead.
In the weekends other match up UC Vikings will be looking to continue their impressive form after only losing one game all season, to Brisbane 37-31. It would take a passionate supporter of Melbourne Rising to look any further than a UC Vikings victory. Melbourne lost out to UC 42-16 during the season, a heavy defeat that may well pray on the minds of the Rising players. The Rising will need to improve their scrum as they struggled last time out against the Sydney Stars in the last match of the season.
Looking back throughout the season it is likely that Melbourne Rising and UC Vikings are battling it out to face Brisbane City. With all respect to Sydney Stars it would appear that Brisbane have the skill level and strength in depth to go unbeaten in this tournament. This, however, is finals football and anything can happen. As the old clichés go anyone can beat anybody on their day and Sydney will be hoping to ruin the party. The semi-finals will take place on Friday and Saturday before all attention turns north to Twickenham as the Wallabies will be facing Argentina in the Rugby World Cup second semi final. Rugby has the ability to prosper in Australia and as much as it needs a strong and successful Wallaby side, it needs the NRC to continue and grow from strength to strength.
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